Have you had a gingerbread party for kids? We're doing this for DD's 10th bday in December and I need to send the Evite. Gingerbread "barns" (whatever they look like is fine) with little candy pigs, and pig theme. She loves pigs. But gingerbread is so cute for December, so we're doing a mash-up.
ROUGH plan: --as they come, use glitter glue to decorate cinnamon pig ornaments that we will have pre-made (easy project they did at preschool) --gingerbread decorating--I will pre-make the graham cracker houses. SIL did this and swears it's easy. No cutting anything to size; just using four long crackers and 2 shorts for ends, so there will be a gap at the sides but who cares. --games, like minute-to-win-it; maybe stack lifesavers on a spaghetti noodle or try to move the gingerbread cookie down your face; the Saran Wrap ball of gifts game or similar --No meal. Probably like cheese & crackers and a few snacks, cocoa bar, cupcakes; maybe gift opening
If, by some miracle, there would happen to be fresh snow, I would replace some of the games with playing outside in the snow, but that's highly unlikely. Just saying I would be flexible with that if the weather did something magical.
We could also do dance party or something if needed.
So how long would you make this party? How long do you think they will spend decorating their barns/houses? Is 1 to 4 probably good?
I cap all parties at 2 hours, for the most part. Maybe 3 if you think people will be late. Realistically, they will arrive and run around for 30 mins. House decorating will be tops 45 minutes, then food and games.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
The activities will likely go quicker then you expect. If you really want to have it go for 3 hrs I’d feed them, as that will take up some of the time. In your shoes, this is what I’d do:
Party from 2-5: 2:00-3/3:15ish: arrival, pig ornament craft, gingerbread houses
3:15-4:00: games/outside play
4:00-5:00: pizza/tacos (because both are easy and well-liked), cupcakes, open presents, pick-up @5:00
I always vote for feeding them, because I really appreciate it when my kid comes home having eaten (vs. hyped up on cupcakes or whatever without having had dinner yet).
If it’s an activity based party then I would do 2 hours because they will cruise through those quickly. Or if you do 3 hours then I agree to serve pizza.
If you choose to do 3 hours you can maybe select a winter or holiday show or movie to play at the end if you want there to be some quieter time and as a back up plan to fill time.
Some kids will be fine with gingerbread houses in 15 minute and some in 25 minutes so maybe have another thing they can do quickly for those that finish earlier.
I agree with momin2013 that there should be food. It makes it feel more like a party instead of a playdate. Some kids will decorate for 5 minutes and some for 30 minutes. I definitely wouldn't do more than two hours, especially if it is at a home.
Post by mcppalmbeach on Nov 13, 2022 14:22:57 GMT -5
Our friend hosted one last year for about 25 of us and will likely do it again this year. The kids were mostly 9 and 10. . She buys the premade Wilton houses from Sams…and approximately $500 in candy. The kids blew through it fast, 20-25 minutes. It’s almost all boys though so they perhaps were not the most thoughtful and delicate about it. She had bought some cute Christmas games, but basically they mostly wanted to go outside and play football and basketball. Florida…so weather is cooperative. I agree that activities never last as long as you think and definitely to add a meal into the mix with all that candy.
The kits would work too but I would assemble the houses ahead of time. Every time I’ve done a kit with DS he wants to get right into decorating it but you really need to assemble and wait for it to set for a bit otherwise it can be a bit of a disaster.
I pre assemble the Wilton Village kits while my kids are at school. Then they just come home and decorate. I also use my glue gun for assembly. Way more sturdy.
I pre assemble the Wilton Village kits while my kids are at school. Then they just come home and decorate. I also use my glue gun for assembly. Way more sturdy.
OMG I have never thought to use a glue gun. Brilliant! I always end up cursing the damn icing and threaten to throw the whole thing in the trash. Fa la la la laaaaa...
Something I do as a teacher instead of gingerbread houses are “winter scenes.” Paper plate, sugar cones for Xmas trees (they decorate with green frosting and candy ornaments), gumdrops to make a walkway. You could do something similar but with a barn theme (pig ornament, maybe animal gummies to decorate) if you don’t want to make all the house beforehand.
And I agree with others, the activity will go fast
Something I do as a teacher instead of gingerbread houses are “winter scenes.” Paper plate, sugar cones for Xmas trees (they decorate with green frosting and candy ornaments), gumdrops to make a walkway. You could do something similar but with a barn theme (pig ornament, maybe animal gummies to decorate) if you don’t want to make all the house beforehand.
And I agree with others, the activity will go fast
Post by chocolatepie on Nov 13, 2022 21:06:29 GMT -5
Glue gun is your answer - learned that long ago doing gingerbread parties with kids for work.
It takes most kids 20-25 minutes, just on the house - they move fast. I typically put each house on a piece of Styrofoam so they can decorate a yard, walkway, etc. Makes it easier to take home (I hotglue the house directly to it). Buy ice cream cones for trees, green icing for grass, etc. The Styrofoam allows them to use toothpicks to add gumdops and such. Adds more time and opportunity to use up all the supplies.
Every activity at a party takes half the time I think it will. At that age though I would probably just leave them to it and they'll find ways to entertain themselves. And I am always team 'feed them lots of stuff' as it just seems to keep things calmer!
At 10, dd ends up in her room, listening to music and giggling madly whenever we have a group of girls over. I wouldn’t worry too much about having extra time if the girls all mostly know each other. Do you have dance dance revolution? That’s always a winner in a pinch if you need an activity.
Definitely need food. Otherwise they will eat your houses. We had a cake decorating party last year and despite serving them pizza and chicken fingers and birthday cake, the girls still couldn't stop eating the frosting.
Looks like you have the party planning things covered with the above comments - I will only chime in on the actual houses. So usually on black Friday you can get the kits from Michaels or another craft store for like $5 (at least that's what they use to cost) - do that. Then pre assemble them by using caramelized sugar to hold them together - you basically melt sugar in a pan, it becomes like hot glue and they stay together! Be super carful with this - its HOT and you will drop some on your skin and burn yourself - but its worth it! :-)
Finally put the houses in little 8x8 foil pans from the dollar store because they will use a ton of candy/frosting and this keeps it contained and makes for easy transport. Also, roll up your rug if you are planning to do it over one - they get stuff everywhere!
I do this every year with my daughter and its my favorite holiday tradition!
sacattack, these are great tips! But the hot sugar thing sounds hard. Would a glue gun be easier if we don't care about them being edible? Or is using carmelized sugar not nearly as bad as it sounds?
Oh, i also forgot to add - buy the frosting from the grocery store and put it in ziploc sandwich bags and cut off a corner. Remind the kids to squeeze from the top down.
sacattack , these are great tips! But the hot sugar thing sounds hard. Would a glue gun be easier if we don't care about them being edible? Or is using carmelized sugar not nearly as bad as it sounds?
Its not hard at all, but I guess you could use hot glue. I just like to be extra and claim the whole thing is edible, but lets me honest - they only pick at the candy.
For the sugar, I heat up a cup or so of sugar over medium heat - stiriring it as I go along. I use a big open frying pan and then wipe the edge of the gingerbread house that I am trying to glue. Maybe just 1/4 of an inch or so in the melted sugar and then I quickly assemble it as each piece gets dipped. It really only takes a second or two to dry and once you get the hang of it, you'll get into a groove.
Haha, not making monogrammed aprons! Very cute, though!
Update: 11:30 to 2, doing craft and houses and then eating pizza, then games and cake/gifts/cocoa. We'll see how it goes. Shouldn't be too bad b/c DD steadfastly refused to invite one girl, which meant we left off 3 b/c I was not going to invite everyone except ONE, so it's going to be a small group.
Just saw this today on IG and thought of this post.
This is very cute! Here is where that Cricut comes in for those asking for ideas on how they would use one, lol I love theme parties. nicolewi I hope you post some pictures after the party, I’d love to see how the houses come out.
Party is supposed to be Sunday. Younger DD has been sick all week with fever but is recovering and should be fine Sunday. BUT bday girl told me that 7/18 kids in her class were out sick yesterday, after all being there the previous day. One who went home during the day said there was actually a line for the health room, and he had to wait in a different empty room for a while for his turn. And now one of the girls who was supposed to come on Sunday just canceled because she woke up with a fever! Great.
We may end up having to postpne if the kids keep getting sick! apparently some kind of epidemic is it to school this week. Winter bdays are tough.